Big Turnout For Second Chiswick Debate On EU Referendum

Chiswick will vote to stay in the EU according to the audience vote

A well-attended debate on the issue of the EU Referendum heard that the decision was the most important the country would take and voters had a responsibility to the next generation.

The meeting at St Michael & All Angels church held a show of hands before the debate began in which a majority vote of Chiswick residents -79- voted to Stay, while 48 said they would vote to Leave. A total of 29 people said they were undecided. After the debate, the figure remained largely unchanged.

Image - Nigel Walley

The panel consisted of Labour MP Hilary Benn, local councillor Gerald Mc Gregor (Cons) former Lib Dem councillor for Southfield, Andrew Mitchell, and local councillor Robert Oulds (Cons) who is chairman of the Bruges Group, a think tank on Britain and the EU. The meeting was chaired by Torin Douglas.

The meeting followed the format of an Oxford University debate with each speaker given ten minutes to speak for or against the motion 'That This House Believes the UK Would be More Prosperous and Secure If It Remains In The EU'.

Speaking first (For) the motion, Hilary Benn MP said that the EU had given this country jobs, security, investment and growth. He quoted several studies from business groups which said that the UK's economy would suffer. Even though the 'Leave' group suggested that 80% of our economy was service-industry based, this still allowed the UK access to other countries.

Image - Nigel Walley

"We are a powerful and influential voice and the UK's voice is stronger and carries more weight precisely because we are in the EU," he said.

The relationship with Europe was not perfect but it was our responsibility to the next generation to manage the challenges. "It's not about our past, it's about our future."

Councillor Gerald McGregor (Opposing) brought up the issue of Turkey and EU membership which he did not believe was a good idea. There was a lot of EU red tape and our economy would be stronger if we stayed out of it. He said that jobs in industries such as chemicals and pharmaceuticals had actually dropped since the UK joined the EU.

"If we vote to leave we can truly take control over our destiny and direct parliamentary democracy- you will know who's in charge because you voted for them and you can vote to throw them out," he commented.

Andrew Mitchell (seconding the motion) said there was no question of losing control over our own sovereignty. Many young people saw no contradiction between being British and European.

"If we vote to leave, it's irrevocable, it's irreversible. If we stay we can have referendums on other issues, such as Turkey, or the Euro."

Councillor Robert Oulds ( against) felt that the European Commission and the European Court of Justice were flawed and took away power from the UK to make its own laws. If we wanted to continue to have influence in a world that was increasingly globalised, we needed to leave the EU because staying inside the EU we were not representing ourselves as we should.

The next debate on the EU Referendum will be held On Thursday 9 June, at 7.30 pm, in St Paul's Church, Grove Park. Ruth Cadbury MP will speak for Remain and local councillor Robert Oulds and chairman of the Bruges Group will be representing Leave.

This is a ticketed event

May 27, 2016